Tourist Guide, Nature Guide, Tour Manager in Emilia Romagna

Bologna - Ferrara - Modena - Forlì Cesena - Ravenna - Rimini - Reggio Emilia - Parma -Piacenza  

ANNA BRINI

City of Bologna

CLASSICAL BOLOGNA

Bologna is the capital of this prosperous region of Italy: Emilia Romagna. Not yet contaminated by mass tourism, the city is the ideal choice for cultural interludes as well as leisure activities and relaxation......

Half day 2,30 hrs.
       Full day 2,30 + 2,30 hrs.

BOLOGNA GOURMET TOUR, WITH TASTINGS

Art and Food
       Food only

A walking guided cultural and food tour during which we stop in some ancient bolognese food shops to taste our local products, telling their story, anecdotes and legends.

SECRET CHAPELS

Most of these artistic gems are not included in the classical tourist itineraries. It is well worth to take some time for them, however, when the fabulous treasures these oratories contain are revealed.

Oratorio della Vita (entrance fee), Oratorio di Santa Cecilia (compulsory donation), Oratorio di San Colombano (entrance fee).

NOBLE HOMES: POMP & GOSSIP

Bologna boasts a large number of sumptuous palaces where one can still breathe the aristocratic air of time gone by. It is possible to concentrate on one or more of the palaces located in the city centre and discover the secrets of the noble families whose historic deeds and misdeeds took place in these very houses: love crimes, spectacular robberies, political intrigue and religious miracles. These noble palaces are not included in tourist “normal” itineraries and in some of them it is possible to visit wonderful museums, still little-known and full of surprises.

Palazzo Poggi (entrance fee), Palazzo Fava (entrance fee), Palazzo Pepoli Campogrande (entrance fee), Palazzo Pepoli Vecchio (entrance fee), Palazzo Sanguinetti (entrance fee), Palazzo Accursio (entrance fee).

BLACK BOLOGNA

Outdoor walk to discover the complex stories of bloody murders and unfound assassins, incredible accounts of skilful robberies, reports of trials and summary executions for the practice of magic and witchcraft.

YE OLDE SHOPPE

Bologna has a strong artisan tradition and its workshops are bursting with history, anecdotes and legends; many have even retained their original furnishings and decorations. To enter one of these stores is to find passage to a world gone by; yet the shops still manage to propose quality and innovative products in harmony with centuries-old tradition. It is possible to visit only one kind of shop, such as pharmacies, goldsmiths, or lute makers, or to choose the most representative of each genre for a "greatest hits" tour. NOT ON SUNDAYS.

BOLOGNA BY BIKE

For the more sports-oriented tourist, it is possible to visit many secret and suggestive corners of the city on two wheels. You can pedal the length of the ancient canal system (you'll be surprised at just how much water runs through Bologna!), visit churches and palaces, or taverns and shops.

Radioguides are always required for cycling tours. Also for individuals.

Bologna by bike is in collaboration with BikeinBO

BOLOGNA IN LOVE

Stirring medieval love stories - young maidens and noble youths divided by warring families, or the more recent experiences of famous poets such as Foscolo, Leopardi, Shelley and Goethe, all of whom found passionate love here in Bologna. The crypt of Santi Vitale e Agricola has an entrance fee of 2€ per person.



PORTICOES

From 1200 to 1900, all the styles and decorations of Bologna's signature architectural feature, from Romanesque to Liberty. A unique cityscape, Bologna's porticoes offer 40 kilometres of covered walkways to discover and enjoy. In Bologna we do not need umbrellas even in case of heavy rain.

TOWERS

2, 100, 200 towers. Bologna was once a "stone forest", a suggestive city full of medieval skyscrapers that offered protection to its inhabitants and facilitated the observation of the surrounding hills and plains. For those strong in leg and heart, it is possible to climb some of the more significant surviving towers to study their interior and to analyze Bologna's cityscape from an unrivalled position. NO elevators in Bologna towers.

BOLOGNA "LIBERTY STYLE"

From 1800 to 1900, the city exploded in a triumph of flower garlands and fanciful "grotesques" made of wrought and cast iron, in no way inferior to those produced at the Universal Exposition at the beginning of the century.

JEWS AND JUDAISM IN BOLOGNA

Bolognese Jews and Gentiles have a long history of reciprocal respect. An itinerary of great historical and religious interest, the tour includes visits to the Jewish Museum (entrance fee) the Synagogue (entrance fee and permission) and the Ghetto.

CRÈCHES

Wax, wood, terracotta, and painted; old and new; aristocratic and common. An interesting overview of this centuries-old tradition and its most beautiful artistic expressions.

CERTOSA AND CERTOSINO

The Carthusian Monastery of Bologna was built in the XIVth Century and became one of the most important in Europe. In 1801 the monastery was turned into the first public cemetery of the World. Today is one of the most evocative place of Bologna and one of the most beautiful monumental cemeteries in Europe. Extraordinary works of art from 1300 to the Second World War. The Bolognese Carthusian Monks in 1530 invented a cake, the Certosino, which is still the local traditional Christmas dessert ... during the tour you can taste it.

MUSEUMS

Bologna is home to the oldest university in the World and so it is rich in museums and galleries to witness the culture of this city. The tours are structured to be captivating and interactive. Both adults and kids will be fascinated by the exhibitions displayed. You can choose one or more museums. Here are the main ones: Univeristy Museums of Palazzo Poggi, Archeology Museum, International Museum of Music, National Gallery, Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Industrial Art, Museum of Industrial Heritage, Noble Prize Giosuè Carducci’s Home.

MUSICAL BOLOGNA

Bologna today is UNESCO world heritage site for music.
Music has long held a privileged position in Bologna's history, from the Renaissance to Jazz, and made it a world music capital.
Therefore it comes as no surprise that the world's oldest organs are conserved here. A few of the sites that may be visited in this tour include the city's antique organs, the small private theatre of Villa Mazzacorati (authorization and ticket), the new International Museum of Music (ticket) showing the famous Father Martini's Collection and the manuscripts by Mozart/Rossini/Wagner/Vivaldi/Respighi/etc., the musical chapel of Santa Maria dei Servi, the Conservatory (authorization and ticket), an old violin maker’s shop, and the "Teatro Comunale" (authorization and ticket), the only surviving 18th century opera hall in Italy.
Rossini lived in Bologna and Respighi were born in this town, Mozart was member of its prestigious Academy, Farinelli lived here and here is his grave, Father Martini dedicated to Bologna his whole life and Wagner chose Bologna for the première of many of his operas.
Not forgetting Bologna city of Jazz, its prestigious clubs and world-famous artists who have performed here.
Make an unforgettable musical journey through the past and the present of the town.

SHOPPING TOURS

Why not combine the cultural itineraries with a little relaxation? You can take the opportunity to visit the shops of the city centre with their charm and class, or even try the area's various fashion outlets.

BOLOGNA UNDERGROUND

There is a Bologna of light and there is a Bologna of darkness. To go down into its bowels it means to discover its most mysterious side...


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THE BOLOGNESI: FRESHWATER SAILORS?

Actually, yes …there used to be a major river port in Bologna!! Perhaps not everyone knows that there was a time when Bologna had much in common with Venice, with canals, boats and freshwater sailors crowding the city. Today you can no longer see the water but it hasn't disappeared - it is just hidden underground. This open-air itinerary retraces the ancient waterways, the Salara (the old wharf side salt warehouses), the port and the canals which may still be seen in the city centre. This unexpected discovery brings some novel surprises.

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